Are physical properties such as temperature invented or discovered?
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Are physical properties such as temperature invented or discovered?
Even tho we don’t know exactly how temperature was invented or discovered we know for sure the Galileo Galilei was the first human being that came up with the idea of an instrument able to calculate the temperature know as a thermometer. Many scientist don’t really recognize Galilei’s instrument as a thermometer but, more as thermoscope because his device only showed the change in temperature and had no scale .The measurement of temperature consist of “The process of measuring a current local temperature for immediate or later evaluation.”
Celcius
In 1742 two years before his death Celcius created a scale which was reversed a 0° represented the boiling point of water and 100° represented the freezing point of water.
Kelvin
In 1848, William Thomson created the Absolute Thermometric Scale that could measure the absolute zero as the scale's null point, and in which he used the Celsius as a point of reference to make his scale. Using the Celsius scale Kelvin (Thompson) calculated that absolute zero was equivalent to −273 °C with his thermometer.
Answer
To answer the question whether or not temperature was discovered or invented, I would say that temperature was discovered as it assess the change in kinetic energy of an element. Temperature is around since the creation of our planet as we could see it with change in seasons (winter, summer spring and autumn). Scientist like Celcius, Kelvin and Fahrenheit came up with scales to measure this temperature even Galilei came up with an instrument to also see change in temperature. In conclusion, temperature was discovered not invented.
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